Juliaan de Vriendt, Belgian 1842-1935- The Betrothal; oil on panel, signed and dated 'Juliaan De Vriendt 1879' (lower right), 57.9 x 71.3 cm. Provenance: Anon. sale, Leo Spik, Berlin, 17 June 1999, lot 314, for DEM 8,000 (£2,653). Property from a European Private Collection. Note: Juliaan de Vriendt and his brother, Albrecht De Vriendt (1843-1900), studied under Henri Leys (1815-1869) in Antwerp, with the latter's dramatic history scenes heavily influencing de Vriendt's own approach. The present work is a striking example of de Vriendt's meticulous, highly detailed painting, using fine brushstrokes to evoke the glimmering gold of the figures' jewellery, and the crisp satin and silk of their costume.

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